The Efftects of Oil Polution

Lives of Ducks

The Efftects of Oil Polution

Lives of Ducks

Ducks are a large population spanning from all over the world. Pollution greatly affects this species as many have heard of from the Dawn campaign. When oil sticks to a bird's feathers, it causes them to mat and separate, impairing waterproofing and exposing the animal's sensitive skin to extremes in temperature. This can result in hypothermia, meaning the bird becomes cold, or hyperthermia, which results in overheating. Instinctively, the bird tries to get the oil off its feathers by preening, which results in the animal ingesting the oil and causing severe damage to its internal organs. In this emergency situation, the focus on preening overrides all other natural behaviors, including evading predators and feeding, making the bird vulnerable to secondary health problems such as severe weight loss, anemia and dehydration. Many oil-soaked birds lose their buoyancy and beach themselves in their attempt to escape the cold water."-International Bird Rescue. By dying of harmful chemicals due to oil spills, the food chain can be drastically altered. The food that these birds eat will get overpopulated because not enough is being eaten, and the hunters of the birds will starve in return because there is no prey for them to feed on. This leads to an imbalance in the food chain.